Talk:Orthodox Church

bride of Christ / body of Christ: I think they're epithets, not titles. I'll look into that and report back.

I think the usage for something like pope or ecumenical patriarch or bishop is like the terms mom and dad. If I'm referring to my mom, it's lowercase. If I'm using Mom as her name — e.g., "That's not what Mom would do!" — then it's uppercase. I wish I had my CMOS with me. Better yet, I wish they'd put the CMOS online. --Basil 23:07, 15 Jan 2005 (CST)

Other names (Greek, Russian, etc)

(especially in the contemporary West) as the Eastern Orthodox Church or the Greek Orthodox Church

In terms of giving examples of other (overly limited) names to the Orthodox Church, shouldn't Russian Orthodox Church be included here? --Dpr 23:38, 12 Oct 2005 (EDT)

While both Greek Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox are terms used to refer to the Orthodox Church as a whole, Russian Orthodox doesn't see that sort of usage. In a real sense, all Orthodox are both "Greek" and "Eastern," though one certainly wouldn't say that they're all "Russian." This is not an attribution that the contemporary West seems to make, either. ——Dcn. Andrewtalkrandomcontribs 07:00, 13 Oct 2005 (EDT)

Proposed Addition/Section on Beliefs and Practices

The following points were included on the Wikipedia article on Catholicism. Wondering if this should be added in some form to this article here? (with the addition also of the Nicean-Constinopolitan Creed to the list below). It sounds like it was taken from an Orthodox source to begin with anyways.

Direct and continuous organizational descent from the original church founded by Jesus. (Mt 16:18).

Belief that the Eucharist is really, truly, and objectively the Body and Blood of Christ, through the Real Presence.

Possession of the "threefold ordained ministry" of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.

All ministers are ordained by, and subject to, Bishops, who pass down sacramental authority by the "laying-on of hands", having themselves been ordained in a direct line of succession from the Apostles.

Belief that the Church is the vessel and deposit of the fullness of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles from which the Scriptures were formed. This teaching is preserved in both written Scripture and in unwritten Tradition, neither being independent of the other.

A belief in the necessity of sacraments.

The use of sacred images, candles, vestments and music, and often incense and water, in worship.

Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus as the Blessed Virgin Mary or Theotokos, and veneration of the saints. (Catholics do not worship Mary, as is often claimed by anti-Catholics.)

January 1, 2010 changes

I see that the Orthodox Christian Church is now like the Protestants It is a bunch of individual churches that did not come into existence until the eleventh century and that are individual churches The changes of January 1, 2010 need to be reverted to the previous text. Where is the earlier history! Wsk 22:37, January 1, 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. These seem to be the edits of someone promoting a Roman Catholic perspective. To say that the Orthodox Church has apostolic succession does not imply that Catholics do not, and this is an article on the Orthodox Church -- I see no reason to have added that the Catholic Church has apostolic succession. --Fr Lev 02:25, January 2, 2010 (UTC)

Labeling the Church "Catholic" or "Orthodox" is historically anachronistic and dishonest. In short, if you call the Church before the Great Schism the "Orthodox Church," you are bearing false witness because that identity did not develop until after the Schism. I believe there is a commandment regarding bearing false witness, or am I mistaken?--Maximustheconfessor 02:31, January 2, 2010 (UTC)